March 10, 2016
New York Bakery and its Korean-Mexican Cuisine is a NoMad Gem
If you live in New York City long enough, you have the same conversation with friends: You know, the one about, maybe, leaving? The streets are too loud. Open space is too scarce. Work is too much of a grind. But more often than not, we stay, because no place else on earth offers the energy, diversity and dynamism of New York.
This is true especially in NoMad, where the melting pot is on full display and often creates results that are inspiring . . . as well as delicious. Case in Point: New York Bakery. It is uniquely New York, uniquely NoMad. You may have passed this nondescript storefront on West 29th Street countless times and probably did not register the Korean characters and generic food offerings displayed across the front window. Nevertheless, inside you’ll find a culturally mashed-up treasure that is classic NoMad.
More than twelve years ago, the owner, known simply as Harrison, opened his unadorned deli, but struggled to attract a steady stream of customers. Then, he noticed the high density of Mexican workers in the neighborhood and, though he didn’t speak a word of Spanish, began to serve Mexican food, hiring a Mexican woman who offered to be his first cook. Since then, business has been excellent due to the hybrid Korean-Mexican cuisine. From the famous fried fish tacos to Korean noodles and soup — everything is delicious and modestly priced.
Today, Harrison speaks Spanish fluently, along with English and his native Korean, and the tasty, unpretentious food has a sparkling reputation among those NoMad neighbors who know better than to write-off this “little deli that could” based on appearances. From an economic need, Harrison was inspired to create another special NoMad food experience. His is a great New York story.
Give New York Bakery a try, as this gem may not be much of a secret for long.